MBA Inter-Firm Team Badminton from June 13

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

The second Mercantile Badminton Association (MBA) Inter-Firm Team Doubles Badminton Championship will worked off from June 13 to 17 at the S Thomas's College Sports Complex in Mount Lavinia. This was revealed during a press conference held at the Galle Face hotel recently.

As a part of MBA's 30th anniversary celebrations the tournament will be conducted on a grand scale with the principal sponsorship of ‘Glitz’, one of the giants in country's fashion industry who has stepped into support sports in a big way for the first time.

There will be 35 teams from 31 companies including three new companies competing in the tournament. Finlays Colombo, Oasis Marketing and Softlogic Holdings are the newcomers this year. The tournament will be conducted in a combination round robin and knock out formats where the first round will see teams battling in round robin basis under seven groups, A,B,C,D,E,F,G and H. Winners of the each group will fight for the Grand Slam Championship while the runner ups will vie for the Cup Championship. The third and fourth places in each group will compete for the Plate and Bowl Championships respectively.

Over 400 shuttlers including most of the top ranking national level players are expected to take part in the tournament. A tie will comprise five matches (two men's doubles, a mixed double, a women's double and a men's Veteran's doubles). A team can include maximum 14 players consisted of nine men and five women shuttlers.

The matches will start at 4.30 pm on all working days and 9.00 am on Saturdays while the play time commence at 10.00 am on Sunday. The semi finals are scheduled on Saturday while the finals and third place play offs will be played on Sunday. An accredited international referee Chandana Nilantha will be the chief referee of the tournament.

MBA President Nirodha de Silva said that their association is one of the strongest affiliates of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association and committed to popularize the sport in the country. “Badminton is a sport that all can involve regardless of their age and very popular as a family sport. The tournament will showcase a high standard badminton as top level players are taking part.

Glitz Operation Manager A. M. M. Shafeek said as a fashion and life style brand they like to keep close ties with sports which is a greater factor of moulding life styles. “We are proud to be the sponsors of this event and look forward to strengthen our ties with sports. Glitz will soon introduce their sports wear collection as the country is turning into a big sporting hub in the region,” Shafeek pointed out.

Glitz Marketing Manager A. L.M. Akeel, its GM Hassan Amjad will be the chief guest and guest of honour at the award ceremony on Sunday.